1 Queen Isabella of Spain had many hard choices, but she made one excellent decision that had far-reaching consequences. She decided to give a sailor three ships, a crew of ninety men, and some money. One reason she decided to help this ardent seaman was that her advisors told her that all of those supplies cost about as much as entertaining a nobleman for one week. The queen thought the sea adventure was a better investment than entertaining a snobby nobleman!2 The sailor and his brave crew sailed to find the Indies. He found land and claimed it for the Spanish throne. What no one understood at first was that he had discovered a new world. Isabella's decision to sponsor the discovery of new land was her most important contribution to history. Maybe you have figured out the sailor's name. He was Christopher Columbus.3 Helping Columbus was one of Isabella's best choices. You might think that being a princess was romantic, but it was not easy. Isabella was born on April 22, 1451 in a town called Madrigal de las Altas Torres. She was surrounded by royal turmoil for her whole life. When her father died, her brother became king, which didn't bother Isabella. It did bother the snobby nobility, who thought that Henry was stupid.